Fresno City & County Historical Society Extends Exhibit through January 2025
From China to Fresno: A 150-Year Cultural Journey
The exhibit, From China to Fresno: 150-year Cultural Journey, which has been on display in the Gallery at Kearney Mansion was slated to close in October, but due to its popularity, has been extended through Lunar New Year in January 2025.
This exhibit is a collaborative effort between the Fresno County Historical Society, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) of Fresno for the Chinese American Museum Project (CAMP).
Featured in the display is the vibrant and extensive history of the Chinese in the Central Valley, including statues of Chinese Deities, traditional Chinese clothing from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, early calligraphy and an authentic lion head worn in 19th century Lion Dances. Learning the histories and stories of these items is part of the visitors’ experience. Also included is a memorial honoring the Chinese American World War II veterans, history of local Chinese American organizations and oral histories of local elders in the Chinese American community.
HISTORY OF FRESNO’S CHINATOWN:
When Fresno’s first residents originally settled along a new railroad line in the 1860s, many of them were Chinese expert brick makers who began building what would eventually become California’s fifth largest city. Soon, however, they were relocated to the west side of the tracks.
Racially segregated residential enclaves were common in California in the 19th century. Chinatown was established here around 1872. West of the tracks became a lively, thriving and inclusive area that offered goods, services and entertainment day and night. Many immigrants from around the world lived in Chinatown. They were entrepreneurs who ran shops, hotels, theaters, restaurants and service businesses. They were farmers of figs, grapes, cotton and wheat. From the late 1800s to the mid-1950s, Chinatown was a vibrant live-work-play environment.
In the early days, the community was limited to China Alley and G Street between Kern and Mariposa Streets. Fresno’s Chinatown during the early twentieth-century was a resilient community. Its few square blocks offered everything that a Chinese immigrant missing their homeland could want: work, food, benevolent associations, entertainment, education and religious houses.
Although they were often described as centers of gambling, prostitution and opium by the American public, Chinatowns in San Francisco, New York and Fresno served as a comfortingly familiar place in an alien and often hostile land. Even though they lived in an ethnic enclave, the Chinese worked hard to learn to read and write English to better integrate into American society.
With urban renewal in the 1960s, Chinatown lost both businesses and residents and has sadly suffered decades of neglect. Several organizations have been formed to not only preserve what is left of the area, but also to bring back some of the glory and luster that made the “alphabet streets” so culturally relevant. Chinese heritage in the Central Valley is traced back to the late 1800’s and was an integral part of the founding of Fresno County.
VISITING THE MUSEUM:
Many objects from Fresno’s Chinatown have been housed within the Archives of the Fresno City & County Historical Society for more than 60 years.
The Society is extremely excited to be able to extend the exhibits run through January 2025. Don’t miss this fascinating exhibit; you’ll be glad you saw it!
The Gallery is included in the full tour of Kearney Mansion offered at noon, 1:30PM and 3:00PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Additionally, Gallery Only tours are also available during the week as well.
Tickets can be found on the Historical Society website at valleyhistory.org. Private tours for groups of 10 or more can be arranged by calling 559-777-4091 or sending an email to info@valleyhistory.org.
PRICING:
Tickets for the full Kearney Mansion & Gallery Tour are:
$12 for Adults
$10 for Seniors (62 and better)
$8 for Children (4 to 12)
Members and Children 3 and under are FREE
Gallery ONLY Tours are:
$10 per person
Private Group Tours of 10 or more are:
$8.00 per person